Category: History

The Survivors: Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger – Germany’s “Peoples Fighter”

Heinkel He 162A-2 Volksjäger ("People's Fighter" - Werk Nummer 120086) "Yellow 2" of JG 1 is on display at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario (2013)

The Reichsluftfahrtministerium Volksjäger (“People’s Fighter”) design competition was issued on September 10th, 1944 by the German Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium – RLM) to develop an inexpensive, mass produced emergency light jet fighter that was fast but easy to fly, to combat the Allied bomber offensive that was devastating Germany. Designs were to be returned by… Read More The Survivors: Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger – Germany’s “Peoples Fighter”

Deano16 Comments

The Survivors: Bristol Beaufighter – The “Whispering Death” of the Pacific and Beyond!

DAP Beaufighter Mk.21 (A8-328) at the Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin Airport, Victoria (May 2019)

Reportedly dubbed “Whispering Death” by Japanese ground forces due to its quiet engines (courtesy of engine sleeve valves), fast and powerful Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighters were flown by Allied pilots to strike Axis shipping and ground targets in the European, North African, Mediterranean and South West Pacific theatres of World War Two. I can picture… Read More The Survivors: Bristol Beaufighter – The “Whispering Death” of the Pacific and Beyond!

Deano30 Comments

The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter

Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A 87-0800 (N231YF) “Gray Ghost” prototype in the Research and Development Hangar at Wright Patterson Air Force Base which was part of a tour at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio in 2009

The USAF Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) Program commenced in the 1970’s, then continued through the 1980’s and 1990’s, as a development, demonstration and evaluation program for a new USAF fifth generation fighter with stealth technology to complement and eventually replace the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. Lockheed and Northrop proposals were accepted in… Read More The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter

Deano2 Comments

The Survivors: Northrop F-20 Tigershark – A Formidible but Unlucky Jet Fighter!

Northrop F-20 Tigershark (82-0064, N44671) - California Science Centre (2013)

By all accounts the 1980’s era Northrop F-20 Tigershark was a great fighter jet that was maneuverable with good short field capability. It was kind of like a super F-5E Tiger II with a new single General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofan engine that boosted performance to Mach 2.0 and featured modern avionics, a Hands On Throttle… Read More The Survivors: Northrop F-20 Tigershark – A Formidible but Unlucky Jet Fighter!

Deano3 Comments

The Survivors: Northrop YF-17 Cobra – The Unwanted Fighter with Quite a Legacy!

Northrop YF-17 "Cobra" prototype 72-1569 at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California (2015)

In 1972 the USAF Lightweight Fighter (LWF) Program was launched to develop a smaller, highly maneuverable, lower cost air combat fighter to complement and conduct roles not suitable for the highly capable but expensive McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle air superiority fighter. This program ultimately pitted two contenders in a fly off, the General Dynamics YF-16… Read More The Survivors: Northrop YF-17 Cobra – The Unwanted Fighter with Quite a Legacy!

Deano2 Comments

Dragon Knights!

Commemorative Dragons - The red and white Draken marks the 1000 year anniversary of the first documented written mention of Austria and the black Draken commemorated 45 years of service by the "Dragon Knights" of the Austrian and Scandinavian Air Forces - Austrian Air Force Museum at Zeltweg Air Force Base in 2015

There is just something about the Swedish Saab 35 Draken (Dragon) fighter aircraft that has always fascinated me. It is certainly not pretty to look at, yet its long air intakes and tailless double-delta wing design give it a certain stylistic charm. Cold War chic that remained in operational service in European skies for 45 years from… Read More Dragon Knights!

Deano9 Comments